Ayew is major casualty as Ghanaian players are snubbed from final shortlist for FIFPro World XI

No Ghanaian player was able to make the 55-man shortlist for the 2015 FIFPro World XI with Andre Ayew emerging the major casualty.

The Swansea star was Ghana’s genuine hope of making at least the shortlist following his explosive start to his career in the Premier League.

Ayew was unable to garner enough votes from the 25,000 professional footballers worldwide who participated in this year’s process.

Voting began in September and to be eligible players must have made 15 appearances in 2015.

Ghana’s votes was administered by the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG) with almost all of the Black Stars players placing their votes.

Ten players from the English Premier League were shortlisted with Real Madrid being best represented with 12 players.

Bayern Munich can also field a full starting XI from their nominees.

The final XI will be announced on 11 January at the FIFA Ballon D'Or ceremony.

THE 55-PLAYER SHORTLIST: (HOME COUNTRY/CLUB)

GOALKEEPERS

Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus) Iker Casillas (Spain, FC Porto) David De Gea (Spain, Manchester United) Keylor Navas (Costa Rica, Real Madrid CF) Manuel Neuer (Germany, FC Bayern Munich)

DEFENDERS

David Alaba (Austria, FC Bayern Munich) Jordi Alba (Spain, FC Barcelona) Daniel Alves (Brazil, FC Barcelona) Jérôme Boateng (Germany, FC Bayern Munich) Daniel Carvajal (Spain, Real Madrid CF) Giorgio Chiellini (Italy, Juventus) David Luiz (Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain) Diego Godín (Uruguay, Atlético Madrid) Mats Hummels (Germany, Borussia Dortmund) Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia, Chelsea) Vincent Kompany (Belgium, Manchester City) Philipp Lahm (Germany, FC Bayern Munich) Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid CF) Javier Mascherano (Argentina, FC Barcelona) Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid CF) Gerard Piqué (Spain, FC Barcelona) Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid CF) Thiago Silva (Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain) John Terry (England, Chelsea) Raphaël Varane (France, Real Madrid CF)

MIDFIELDERS

Thiago Alcantara (Spain, FC Bayern Munich) Xabi Alonso (Spain, FC Bayern Munich) Sergio Busquets (Spain, FC Barcelona) Eden Hazard (Belgium, Chelsea FC) Andrés Iniesta (Spain, FC Barcelona) Toni Kroos (Germany, Real Madrid CF) Luka Modric (Croatia, Real Madrid CF) Andrea Pirlo (Italy, New York City FC) Paul Pogba (France, Juventus) Ivan Rakitic (Croatia, FC Barcelona) James Rodríguez (Colombia, Real Madrid CF) David Silva (Spain, Manchester City) Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast, Manchester City FC) Marco Verratti (Italy, Paris Saint-Germain) Arturo Vidal (Chile, FC Bayern Munich)

FORWARDS

Sergio Agüero (Argentina, Manchester City FC) Gareth Bale (Wales, Real Madrid CF) Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid CF) Douglas Costa (Brazil, FC Bayern Munich) Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Paris Saint-Germain FC) Robert Lewandowski (Poland, FC Bayern Munich) Lionel Messi (Argentina, FC Barcelona) Thomas Müller (Germany, FC Bayern Munich) Neymar Jr. (Brazil, FC Barcelona) Arjen Robben (The Netherlands, FC Bayern Munich) Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid CF) Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United FC) Alexis Sánchez (Chile, Arsenal) Luis Suárez (Uruguay, FC Barcelona) Carlos Tevez (Argentina, Boca Juniors)